VALLEJO –“The Heat” has an enviable problem. She just keeps beating everyone.

Heather Hadley’s nickname, stenciled along with her go-kart racing number, 54, on the back of her father’s car, might seem a little hot to handle for a 10-year-old girl. That is, until you see her race.

Heather, who was born in Vallejo and spends her weekends here with her dad, has come up quickly through the ranks in her go-karting age group in the past year.

What began as a lark at her dad’s request — why don’t you take a run around the course with this go-kart — has progressed to the purchase of Heather’s very own go-kart.

As the only girl in her Sonoma Raceway go-karting class, ages 8 to 12, Heather was champing at the bit to up the pace from the indoor driving speed of 20 mph. So, she moved outside at Sonoma, Dixon Speedway and other locations.